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It's clear that the year-plus Bright Eyes's Conor Oberst took between 2005's widely acclaimed I'M WIDE AWAKE, IT'S MORNING (and the simultaneously released DIGITAL ASH IN A DIGITAL URN) and 2007's CASSADAGA was well spent. The product of intensive studio time, a crack assembly of musicians, and lavish, lovely production and arrangements, CASSADAGA stands as one of Bright Eyes' most confident and consistent works.
The album throws together genres--folk, country, rock, pop--and coats it all in a gauzy dressing of strings, harmonies, and high-end atmospherics. Yet at the center of it all is still Obert's songwriting: witty, emotive, literate, and replete, this time out, with references to the expanse and grandeur of America as a playing field for life, love, and politics. At times reflective, at times rousing, CASSADAGA plays like a sweet pop dream, and adds another notch to Bright Eyes' already impressive discography.
Composer: Conor Oberst.
Bright Eyes: Mike Mogis (12-string guitar); Conor Oberst, Nate Walcott.
Personnel: Mike Mogis (vocals, guitar, lap steel guitar, dobro, mandolin, ukulele, vibraphone, glockenspiel, percussion); Conor Oberst (vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizer); Andy LeMaster (vocals); Myka Miller (oboe); Nate Walcott (piano, electric piano, organ); Stephanie Drootin, Tim Luntzel, Dan McCarthy (bass instrument); Dan Fliegel, Jonathan Crawford, Dan Fliegel, Jonathan Crawford (percussion); M. Ward (vocals, guitar); Jason Boesel (vocals, drums); Hassan Lemtouni, Sean Foley, Gillian Welch, Rachael Yamagata, Jake Bellows, Ted Stevens, Sherri DuPree, Stacy DuPree, Z. Berg (vocals); David Rawlings (guitar); Anton Patzner (violin); Sarah Wass (flute); Brian Walsh (clarinet, bass clarinet); David Moyer (bass clarinet); Shane Aspegren (drums, percussion); Janet Weiss, Maria Taylor (drums); John McEntire (percussion, electronics); Dan Bitney, Michael Zerang, Clark Baechle (percussion); Suzie Katayama, Bill Meyers.
Audio Mixer: Mike Mogis.
Recording information: Arc Studios; Frosty The Studio; Presto!; STratosphere Sound, New York, NY; Supernatural Sound, Portland, OR.Rolling Stone (p.61) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[With] remarkable love songs....[Oberst] shows he can still tell us something by communing with himself."
Rolling Stone (p.108) - Included in Rolling Stone's "50 Top Albums of the Year 2007" -- "Oberst's loose, memorable tunes and lyrics about crises both personal and global are consistently engaging..."
Spin (p.89) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Oberst's countryish genre studies have deepened with a very adult loneliness."
Entertainment Weekly (p.72) - "Musically, it's his richest album yet, full of Nashville twang and Branson brassiness. And lyrically, the itinerant-traveler conceit is intriguing..." -- Grade: B
Q (p.117) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The strapping, clear-headed coherence of 'Four Winds' is echoed throughout the album....At long last his star is born."
Alternative Press (p.150) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[With] ambitious string arrangements and swinging instrumentation that echo great '70s works by Joe Cocker and Elton John."
CMJ (p.6) - "[H]e offers some of the most polished country-folk of his 14-year career. His lyrical acuity is in tact..."
Kerrang (Magazine) (p.49) - "With sweeping string sections almost reminiscent of Smashing Pumpkins, psychedelic pop structures, political protest poetics and dusty country production....[His] most opulent work yet."
Q (Magazine) (p.80) - Ranked #23 in Q's "The 50 Best Albums Of 2007" -- "Conor Oberst has made his most assured album to date..."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.110) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "CASSADAGA is an album to warm souls, rally minds and break hearts in equal measure."
Bright Eyes - Cassadaga Songs
Cassadaga Music Review
Average Rating: (5 out of 5 stars)   Excellent
Arguably his most sophisticated work yet, these songs are beginning to sound more like a growing artist rather than a depressed twentysomething somewhere in Middle America. Listen to Cleanse Song and you will feel better no matter what.
Submitted by Joey (Anytown, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful. this disc has been spinning in my cd player for months
You know this album starts off really strange. After the first song it goes in a completely different direction. I wasn't too impressed with the beginning song, but after that it gets way better every song is fantastic! The lyrics are the some of the best i have ever heard. This man is a great lyricist, and i really enjoyed his older material. My other favorite is digital ash in a digital urn. What a great record only to be topped by this album. Cassadaga is a very mesmurizing album it will put you into a trance. This artist is one to watch for sure, and i hope albums to come will display his talents even more!
Submitted by Westonnixon89 (altoona iowa usa)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Great Album, even greater performances.
I've listened to this album countless numbers of times and I still enjoy every song on it. I too saw Bright Eyes in concert and he came out wearing the white suit with his long brown hair and played mostly songs off of Cassadaga.
But I also attended the last concert of the tour (in NYC) and the old Conor was back! Semi-tight pants, regular T-shirt, SHORT HAIR, and of course, quite a few cups of beer. He mixed up the song list quite a bit, playing old favorites such as Lover I Don't Have To Love (the crowd went crazy), Lua, and many others that I can't think of at the moment. Anyway, it was an amazing concert and I recommend anyone, all ages, to go see one of his performances AND BUY THIS CD!
Submitted by Eve (Warminster, PA, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Never ceases to amaze
I saw Bright Eyes in concert the other night, and nearly every song from CASSADAGA was played (except, unfortunately Coat Check Dream Song, a beautiful and psychedelic song). I was in awe through the whole show. I expected to see an earnest kid singing his heart out in a sweatshirt and jeans. Instead this grand, very-long-haired, adult came out in a full white suit, though he still certainly sang his heart out. He was so endearing! The concert was epic, the CD is epic, and anyone with a hunger for sincerity and truth should buy this album. I can't stop listening to it.
Submitted by Ashley (Battle Ground, WA, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Goddam
Best album to date,
BUY IT
Submitted by Chris J (Ringwood, NJ)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No | Have you heard this album? |  |
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